Engine Air-Cooling Cylinder Captures Waste Heat for Turbocharger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current internal combustion engine cooling systems either lose heat energy to the atmosphere or require complex water/air heat exchangers, leading to inefficiencies in temperature control and engine performance.

Innovation Solution

An engine system combining an internal combustion engine with an air-cooling system that includes a cooling cylinder within the engine block, where input air is expanded to transfer heat directly to the exhaust stream, enhancing turbocharger performance and engine economy by capturing and utilizing otherwise lost heat and gas flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a closed liquid coolant system with radiator is used, then the engine temperature is controlled at optimum operating temperature, but heat energy is lost to the atmosphere and the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine operating temperatureVSAvoidheat energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste heat into a beneficial resource by directing it to power a turbocharger. The exhaust manifold captures hot exhaust gases and directs them through a turbine, transforming the previously wasted thermal energy into mechanical work that drives the compressor, thereby improving engine efficiency and reducing heat loss to the atmosphere

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers waste heat energy from the exhaust stream that would otherwise be discarded to the atmosphere. By installing a turbocharger system that captures exhaust gases and uses their thermal energy to drive the turbine, the system recovers this wasted energy and puts it to productive use in compressing intake air, thereby reducing overall energy loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Device complexity

If direct air cooling is used, then the water/air heat exchanger is eliminated, but heat energy is still lost to the atmosphere and cooling effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system structureVSAvoidheat energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the harmful waste heat that would be lost during direct air cooling into a beneficial resource. By capturing the hot exhaust gases and directing them through a turbocharger turbine, the system converts this wasted thermal energy into mechanical work that compresses intake air, thereby eliminating the need for complex water/air heat exchangers while simultaneously reducing heat loss to the atmosphere

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If waste heat is released to the atmosphere, then the cooling system operates simply, but engine economy and turbocharger performance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system structureVSAvoidengine economy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously wasted heat energy into a productive resource by directing exhaust gases through a turbocharger. The thermal energy that would have been simply released to the atmosphere is now used to drive the turbine, generating mechanical work that compresses intake air and improves engine economy, thereby transforming a simple but wasteful system into one that generates additional useful work

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The air-cooling system effectively captures engine heat and exhaust gas flow, enhancing engine economy and turbocharger performance by directing this energy to power the turbocharger, reducing temperature and improving engine efficiency without the need for a radiator.

Implementation Method 1

Heat from the cooling cylinder is transferred to the input air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heated air is then exhausted to the internal combustion engine exhaust stream where it is used to help power a turbocharger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy conversion to mechanical energy: Heat Engine

Data Source

PatentUS11598292B1Engine system

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 TIEMAN MICHAEL ANTHONY

AI summary

An engine system which combines an internal combustion engine with a unique air-cooling system. The air-cooling system includes a cooling cylinder(s) which is disposed in the engine block. Input air is expanded through the cooling cylinder from the intake manifold directly to the exhaust manifold. No high compression or combustion takes place in the cooling cylinder. Heat from the cooling cylinder is transferred to the input air, and the heated air is then exhausted to the internal combustion engine exhaust stream where it is used to help power a turbocharger.